Old foes clash after contrasting seasons

2:17pm Thursday 1st May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Rivals Clayton and Queensbury meet in the final of the Jack Senior Memorial Bradford Cup final at Grattan Stadium on Sunday (3.30pm).

The showpiece event is the climax of what has been a turbulent season for holders 'Bury who just escaped relegation from the Premier Division by the skin of their teeth, winning their final game against Drighlington.

They will lack talisman Carl Smith, who has a dislocated shoulder, but speedy full back Luke Brearcliffe and marksman Brett Marriott are bang in form.

Clayton on the other hand have enjoyed a relatively prosperous term, finishing mid-table under the stewardship of former Queensbury and Sheffield Eagles prop John Bruce. The highlight of their campaign was the narrow home defeat against National Conference high-fliers Skirlaugh Bulls in the Ace National Cup.

The Villagers also have an array of potential match-winners, not least their powerful pack leader Craig Pickthall and the much-admired young utility back Danny Belcher.

The appetiser before the main event is the Dudley Hill A versus Wibsey Warriors Hudson Foster Supplementary Cup final (1.30pm).

Hill, who have flown the Bradford flag for many years at the top echelons of the amateur game, are on the crest of a revival.

The first team are going great guns in the National Conference while the second string have had a good run in Division Four which they have topped by reaching Sunday's final.

The side is packed full of talented youngsters who will undoubtedly form the backbone of the club for years to come.

Last season's unsuccessful finalists Wibsey Warriors are a force to be reckoned with despite their lowly Division Six status.

They have finish up unbeaten champions by amassing over 1,000 points in the plus column.

The inclusion of free- scoring backs Andy Robinson and Michael Derrick - back after gaining valuable Conference experience with West Bowling - should ensure the scoreboard keeps ticking along and rivals the main event.